Pichon Lalande 2009

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

A beautiful effort, the 2009 Pichon Lalande, a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, possesses copious mocha, lead pencil, unsmoked, high class tobacco, black currant, forest floor and herbaceous characteristics. It is a deep purple-hued, charming, surprisingly open-knit Pauillac with wonderful freshness, a plump, fleshy mouthfeel, opulence and unctuosity, medium to full body and a well-delineated, luscious style. More elegant than its nearby neighbor, Pichon Longueville Baron, and not as massive in concentration and extract, it is one of the great Pichon Lalandes of the last twenty years.

robert_parker96

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted at the chateau and at the UGC. A limpid deep purple colour. This has a very fragrant nose, not quite as well defined as Pichon Baron, but very elegant and graceful with blackberry, raspberry leaf, pencil lead, graphite and wild hedgerow. Very pure and feminine. Second bottle at the UGC is actually better...much more precision here, the high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%) really showing through. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, very compact, not as expansive as other wines, much more conservative than I was expecting, but very graceful with an unerring sense of symmetry. I cannot help feeling that the wine would benefit from a greater percentage of Merlot, especially on the finish, but over time is does expand in the glass, becoming more and more supple, with a sense of Cabernet invoked authority on the finish. This should coalesce beautifully by time of bottling. Tasted March 2010.

robert_parker98

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

The blend for the 2009 Pichon Lalande is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, somewhat unusual at this estate which usually has more Merlot in the blend. As stated previously, the Cabernet Sauvignon reached levels of ripeness and intensity of flavor in 2009 never seen before in Bordeaux! The final blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot and a pH of 3.8 combines the best of a vintage such as 1996, in terms of structure, freshness, and precision, with the best of 1982, in terms of opulence, power, unctuosity, and thickness. The opaque purple-colored 2009 exhibits an intoxicatingly intense nose of red and black fruits, subtle smoke, charcoal, forest floor, and a hint of flowers. Unusually full-bodied for a wine from this estate as well as unctuously textured, voluptuous, and incredibly pure and precise, this dazzling wine should be drinkable at an early age, and evolve for 30+ years. (Tasted once.) Like most Medoc chateaux, Pichon Lalande began their harvest on September 22, and finished on October 7.

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted at the chateau, the Pichon-Lalande 2009 has a taciturn nose that demands coaxing from the glass. The Cabernet Sauvignon that begins to open offering blackberry, graphite, freshly rolled tobacco and a touch of bay leaf. The palate is defined by its super-fine tannins and wonderful tension, a tangible symmetry that is reminiscent of the 1996. There is citric thread of acidity that lends the 2009 so much vivacity. It is extremely pure with blackberry, cedar and just a touch of pepper, firm grip on the finish and great persistency. This is a Pauillac to be reckoned with. Tasted November 2011.

robert_parker94

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Pichon Lalande '09 has a far more understated bouquet with black cherries, pencil shavings, cedar and mint - classic Pauillac in other words, but very intense and precise. The palate is understated on the entry. This is very elegant, refined, very Lafite-like in style with a harmonious, citrus fresh finish that is long and sensual. Tasted January 2013.

robert_parker97

Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a little reticent to begin, slowly giving way to notions of warm black cherries, blackcurrant cordial, stewed plums and sautéed herbs with hints of damp soil, tobacco and beef drippings. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with tightly wound black fruit and earthy layers, framed by ripe, fine-grained tannins and lovely freshness making for a long, lively finish. Classic!

vinous97

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

The 2009 Pichon Lalande is ripe and decidedly flamboyant from the very first taste. Dense and voluptuous in the glass, with serious richness, the 2009 is also almost shockingly tannic. It won’t be ready to drink anytime soon, and yet, there is so much to look forward to. The warm, dry conditions yielded a dense, exotic Pichon Lalande, but there is serious structure beneath all of the fruit.

vinous96

Reviewed by: Ian d'Agata

(a blend of 75% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot and 5% petit verdot; 13% alcohol; pH 3.79; 70 IPT; 50% new oak) Purple-ruby color. Initially reticent nose hints at minerals and blackcurrant, then opens to reveal spicy strawberry, violet and cedar. Quite dense yet suave on entry, with harmonious acids nicely framing the captivating blackcurrant, plum and cedar flavors. Conveys an impressive sense of depth and brooding power, yet remains remarkably light on its feet and easy to drink. Very silky wine, with polished tannins offering considerable structure and support to the ripe fruit flavors on the extremely long finish. An utterly seamless wine yet very serious wine that will offer considerable early drinking appeal but needs time to reveal all of its considerable potential. Pichon-Lalande has long been one of my favorite wines of Bordeaux but I've been unimpressed by many recent vintages, so I am very happy to report that the '09 is not just the best wine here in recent memory, but probably one of the best of all time.

vinous93

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2009 Pichon-Lalande has a fresh and vibrant bouquet with blackberry, black tea and pencil shavings, quite Saint-Julien like in style. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannin. Not the most elegant Pauillac on the block but well defined with a very sappy, almost brine-tinged, citrus fresh finish that lingers, hints of salted liquorice on the aftertaste. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.

vinous94

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2009 Pichon-Lalande offers copious scents of boysenberry, cassis and blue fruit on the nose, a little smudged compared to the Pichon Baron but very pure. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, very rounded in the mouth thanks to the precocious Merlot content, sage and orange rind developing towards the caressing finish. A very sensual Pichon-Lalande, tempting. A great wine although the 2010 has the upper hand. Tasted at BI Wines & Spirits' Ten Year On tasting.

vinous94

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Dark red. Sexy aromas of redcurrant, smoke, mocha, espresso and tobacco, with darker berry notes emerging as the wine opens in the glass. Rich, lush and seamless but not yet filled in, with its berry flavors complicated by earth and herb elements. Not the last word in concentration, but this sexy Pauillac is sweet, shapely and remarkably accessible today. Finishes long, suave and palate-coating, with perfumed red berry flavor and an obvious chocolatey quality from the merlot component.